This shrimp is tentatively identified as Alpheus spongiarum, a species known to live in cavities in sponge colonies. This one is similar to Alpheid sp. 11 and may be the same, just differing in color. Alpheus cf spongiarum is found in colonies of a pink sponge (possibly Dysidea) common in lagoon habitats, from shallow reefs to the lagoon bottom at 60m or more.
Created 3 July 2018